An orchid only needs to watered weekly and a quality one will last for a month or more.

No gifts to ICU

Wait until they’re feeling better and in a regular room and then bring your gift.

Ipad or itunes voucher

Gifts that help fight boredom but don’t tax the brain are usually the most welcomed.

Use GroupTogether.com to chip in for an ipad (from $300 for a mini). Check if the hospital has wifi access. Otherwise get one with cellular).

Or they already have one, chip in for an itunes voucher. You can burn through credit quickly when you’re binge-watching TV series.

Magazines, moisturiser, photos

Fill a basket with magazines, a novel, an inspirational book, hand lotion, nice lip balm, fun socks (feet often get cold when you’re ill), notecards, a journal, colorful pens etc. Check out Pinterest boards for inspiration and walk the aisles of Kmart etc.

Photos – frame the GroupTogether.com card with the gang’s pictures on it or frame little 3″ by 4″ framed photos of their loved ones don’t take up much room, but they’ll make a special gift.

Food (that’s allowed). Ask about your friend’s hospital diet. Bring a favourite dish from a restaurant, a snack they’re craving, or something homemade. Consider a healthy option like dried fruit or a fruit basket for friends who are weight conscious.

Consider stylish or crazy slippers but make sure they aren’t slippery.

A cashmere robe would make anyone feel valued and pampered. Ondene in Sydney sells beautiful ones in cashmere and also waffle weave cotton.

Things to cheer

Make a series of envelopes to open each time they need some cheer. Inside each enclose something nice – a quote, a note, some memories you share, a photo, a gourmet wrapped chocolate, special tea bags, a drawing or cartoon, a prayer. Check out pinterest for inspiration.

Hampers

No time to make your own, call a company to package and send it beautifully. Try PamperHamper (Sydney), Boxt (Perth) Bindle (Melb)

Should You Visit & How Long Should You Stay?

Check before you come:

Never show up at the hospital unannounced.

Ask a family member to ask when would be a good time to visit.

When a day and time is set, call before to see if they are still up for your visit.

Stay 20 minutes

Cut your visit short if he or she seems tired or in pain. Stay longer if they’re bored out of their mind.

What Should You Say?

Be a listening ear, comforting the person, and sharing the warmth of friendship.

That’s usually best done by doing very little talking and a lot of listening.

Share news about people you both know.

Talk about TV, movies, books or current events.

Come to the hospital with a mental list of three or four topics to help talk about.

Make plans with the person – something to look forward to.

In your conversations you don’t need to pretend all is well, but don’t want to be Debbie Downer. Keep it light, but if they bring up the hard stuff, listen, pray with them, and talk about what they want to talk about.